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State Sen. Robert Mellow speaks at the Lackawanna County Democratic dinner in 2001.

Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press
Former state Sen. Robert Mellow, D-Lackawanna, addresses the Senate floor during debate of Senate legislation to ban indoor smoking in Pennsylvania at the Capitol in Harrisburg on June 26, 2007.

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HARRISBURG - Sen. Robert Mellow announced unexpectedly Tuesday he will not seek re-election to an 11th term, sending a shock through the Capitol as lawmakers were focused on the governor's budget address.

Mr. Mellow's announcement came at a time when he is entangled in several ethics controversies regarding family-related rental of his district office in Peckville and paid membership on the board of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

"I always knew there would come a time to make this difficult decision," Mr. Mellow said in a statement.

He was not at the Capitol for Gov. Ed Rendell's address. Efforts to reach him were not successful.

Mr. Mellow, 67, is the longest-serving member of the state Senate, having taken office in 1970. He served in Democratic caucus leadership posts since the 1980s.

Harrisburg activist Gene Stilp, who refiled a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee last week over Mr. Mellow's past ownership of the Peckville building that houses his district office, believes the ethics issues fed the decision to retire.

"This has to be taking a toll," he said.

In the past year, the state Ethics Commission began an investigation of whether Mr. Mellow violated the law in renting the building that houses his Senate office from a company co-owned first by his wife, then by the senator himself. State taxpayers paid more than $210,000 in rent over a seven-year period before the building was sold to another company in 2008.

In addition, Mr. Mellow's ex-wife, Diane, spoke to FBI agents about his business dealings, including the rental arrangement, which she claimed she knew nothing about.

In November, The Times-Tribune published stories that reported Mr. Mellow's chief campaign committee issued hundreds of checks made payable only to "cash" without revealing who received the money, a practice that conflicts with a state law requirement for full disclosure of the recipients of campaign expenditures.

Critics have asked the state attorney general's office to investigate and have asked other agencies to look into whether he has a conflict of interest in serving on the boards of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Penseco Financial Services.

Mr. Mellow denies doing anything wrong.

He has spent the past few years steering state aid to the new Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton and, before that, promoting the former Mount Airy Resort in Monroe County as a location for the slots casino that eventually became Mount Airy Casino Resort.

Earlier in his career, the senator helped locate a state veterans' home in Scranton and enact laws to expand children's and women's health insurance coverage.

Mr. Mellow's announcement creates an open contest for the 22nd District seat in the May 18 primary. Mr. Mellow started his Senate career by unseating Republican incumbent Arthur A. Piasecki of Scranton in the 1970 election.

The race to elect a new senator in the Democratic-leaning district could draw many candidates. Early speculation focuses on Rep. Jim Wansacz, D-114, Old Forge.

Mr. Mellow is the fourth senior-ranking lawmaker from the northeast region to announce his retirement in recent weeks. House Speaker Keith McCall, D-122, Summit Hill; Sen. Raphael Musto, D-14, Pittston, and Rep. Robert Belfanti, D-107, Mount Carmel, have all decided to step down after decades in Harrisburg.

"You lose experience, the connections to bring resources back to the district," said Dr. Thomas Baldino, political science professor at Wilkes University.

Mr. Mellow made the decision not to seek re-election only in recent days, said spokeswoman Lisa Scullin.

Mr. Wansacz was taken aback by the move.

"It came as a shock," he added. "I thought he was running for re-election."

"Sen. Mellow had a wonderful career and contributed greatly not only to his district but the entire state in so many ways," said Gov. Ed Rendell in a statement.

Rep. Mario Scavello, R-176, Mount Pocono, tangled with Mr. Mellow on issues such as the distribution of slots revenue from Mount Airy, which is located in both lawmakers' districts. But he observed that Mr. Mellow did a lot to help Lackawanna County. Mr. Scavello said he's not interested in running for the 22nd District seat.

"We disagree on a lot of issues," added Mr. Scavello, "but he (Mr. Mellow) was a powerhouse for Northeast Pennsylvania."

Mr. Mellow and the other retiring Northeast lawmakers are known for bringing home the bacon, but other lawmakers will step up to the plate and perhaps bring a new perspective to the job, said Mr. Stilp.

Except for a brief period in the early 1990s when he served as Senate president pro tempore, Mr. Mellow has been at the helm of a minority caucus currently holding just 20 seats in a 50-seat chamber.

"I think he (Mr. Mellow) learned to accommodate himself to being in the minority," said G. Terry Madonna, Ph.D., political pollster at Franklin & Marshall College. "He did not lead an obstructionist caucus."

Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com

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Wow, this is something (for the good) that I never thought I would see. I do remember his friend Rosetti retiring from the NEIU, and now I bet Austin will depart the Chamber of Horrors. All protected by Mellow. Very interesting turn of events. I'm sure this was #1 on the list - retire and it will go a little easier for you - plus, you can grab your pension before convicted in which case you lose your pension. Smart move Bob.

I simply cannot believe some of the comments here. Do you all believe everything you read in the papers. Of course newspapers don't slant the news - don't slime someone because of a hidden agenda - such as another candidate, or increasing circulation.

Bob Mellow has done more for NEPA than just about anyone else - even for those of you naive enough to believe this paper only prints facts.

Now is the time to think of someone new. For the sake of our future I really hope that it is not a Mellow duplicate but someone with fresh, new ideas not to mention HONESTY and INTEGRITY. Please, no more GOOD OLD BOYS!!!!